New reality series and specials -- and the premiere of at least one original
movie -- are on tap for NBC-owned Bravo for the 2003-04 season.
In his first upfront presentation since Bravo was bought by General Electric
Co.-owned NBC last year, president Jeff Gaspin also discussed a planned July
launch of a high-definition-TV version of the 70 million-subscriber cable
service.
He vowed that Bravo's schedule would not become heavily populated with
repurposed NBC fare, but said the channel should benefit from having its shows
promoted by the broadcaster.
Bravo has already selectively shown some NBC series deemed to be a good fit
with the cable network's format -- notably Kingpin and cop drama
Boomtown. Bravo's Kingpin airing included scenes featuring
objectionable language, nudity and violence that the NBC version deleted.
Among new series slated for Bravo is the July premiere of Queer Eye for
the Straight Guy, in which five gay men remake the living space and fashion
sense of one straight guy.
In 2004, the network will introduce Cirque du Soleil Variety Show, a
new series derived from Bravo's popular Cirque franchise; and More than
Music, an eight-episode series that spans the effect of music on all aspects
of life and history, Gaspin said.
Other original specials include The Reality of Reality, a look at the
reality-show phenomenon; Man, Monster and Machine, which highlights
memorable, high-tech movie characters; Reggae: The Story of Jamaican
Music; The TV Revolution, chronicling the impact of television on
U.S. culture; and Stage Moms.
Inside the Actors Studio will return with 20 new episodes, including
interviews with the cast of NBC comedy series Will & Grace and actor
John Travolta.
Bravo will share a portion of NBC's 2004 summer Olympic Games coverage,
although Gaspin could not say what events would air on the cable service.
He also said the network would look to premiere at least one original movie
during the 2003-04 season, but he would not reveal further specifics. The movie
could find a second window on NBC.
